JWC practice day

Go on the water with Nation junior competitors as they face a challenging Pool 9 on the Arkansas River!

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This isn’t your grandfather’s lake map.
This isn’t your grandfather’s lake map.
Clayton Childs and Ben Stone are representing the Southern Division.
Clayton Childs and Ben Stone are representing the Southern Division.
Dawn broke cold and clear on the Arkansas River for the practice day of the Bassmaster Junior World Championship.
Dawn broke cold and clear on the Arkansas River for the practice day of the Bassmaster Junior World Championship.
Brian Volkernick and Noah Winslow of the Eastern Division are shrouded by fog on Friday morning.
Brian Volkernick and Noah Winslow of the Eastern Division are shrouded by fog on Friday morning.
JWC contenders work around a jetty just downstream of the Dardanelle Lock and Dam. Arkansas Nuclear One’s cooling tower is in the background.
JWC contenders work around a jetty just downstream of the Dardanelle Lock and Dam. Arkansas Nuclear One’s cooling tower is in the background.
Childs and Stone worked over this jetty tip for quite a while Friday morning.
Childs and Stone worked over this jetty tip for quite a while Friday morning.
Ryan Wood looks over a nice bass while Chase Heaton looks for another one. Wood and Heaton represent the Western Division.
Ryan Wood looks over a nice bass while Chase Heaton looks for another one. Wood and Heaton represent the Western Division.
With little in the way of backwater on Pool 9 of the Arkansas River, rock jetties came into play during Friday’s practice.
With little in the way of backwater on Pool 9 of the Arkansas River, rock jetties came into play during Friday’s practice.
In the next several images, Henry Schomaker from the Mid-Atlantic Division hooks and lands a fish next to a long rip rap bank on the main channel.
In the next several images, Henry Schomaker from the Mid-Atlantic Division hooks and lands a fish next to a long rip rap bank on the main channel.
He’s hooked up now.
He’s hooked up now.
Schomaker makes his move.
Schomaker makes his move.
Schomaker boat flips the fish.
Schomaker boat flips the fish.
It’s time for Ryan Appleby, Schomaker’s partner from the Mid-Atlantic Division, to get in on the action.
It’s time for Ryan Appleby, Schomaker’s partner from the Mid-Atlantic Division, to get in on the action.
Appleby works the fish closer to the boat.
Appleby works the fish closer to the boat.
Schomaker moves in with the net to finish a nice piece of teamwork.
Schomaker moves in with the net to finish a nice piece of teamwork.
Appleby’s fish looks like one that will help his cause during Saturday’s competition.
Appleby’s fish looks like one that will help his cause during Saturday’s competition.
Roman Chapman slowly works a rock jetty on the main channel.
Roman Chapman slowly works a rock jetty on the main channel.
David Wood (boat driver) steers along the jetty while Daryk Eckert and Roman Chapman drag baits around the rocks.
David Wood (boat driver) steers along the jetty while Daryk Eckert and Roman Chapman drag baits around the rocks.
This jetty is right on the main channel, as evidenced by the green channel marker just beyond the boat.
This jetty is right on the main channel, as evidenced by the green channel marker just beyond the boat.
Chapman and Eckert moved to a major tributary stream to find some fish.
Chapman and Eckert moved to a major tributary stream to find some fish.
Barge traffic is always something to contend with on the Arkansas River. Some anglers say tow wakes can actually turn on fish because it agitates the water.
Barge traffic is always something to contend with on the Arkansas River. Some anglers say tow wakes can actually turn on fish because it agitates the water.
Chase Melton from the Arkansas Tech University bass fishing team was the boat captain for Remington Wagner and Trevor Yates from the Central Division. The team ran to the bottom end of Pool 9 to try a different area later in the day.
Chase Melton from the Arkansas Tech University bass fishing team was the boat captain for Remington Wagner and Trevor Yates from the Central Division. The team ran to the bottom end of Pool 9 to try a different area later in the day.
Remington Wagner hooks into a fish late in the day. The following images show the progression of the catch.
Remington Wagner hooks into a fish late in the day. The following images show the progression of the catch.
The fish is almost to the boat, and Wagner positions himself to swing it over the gunwale.
The fish is almost to the boat, and Wagner positions himself to swing it over the gunwale.
Here it comes.
Here it comes.
He closes the deal.
He closes the deal.
Trevor Yates has a nice fish, but crappie don’t count for the weigh-in.
Trevor Yates has a nice fish, but crappie don’t count for the weigh-in.
Yates works through a shaded creek on the lower end of Pool 9.
Yates works through a shaded creek on the lower end of Pool 9.